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Donald Trump's return to power has generated distinctive reactions across Canada's ethnic media landscape, revealing perspectives that often challenge mainstream narratives. While typically cautious about domestic Canadian politics, ethnic media outlets have offered bold, multifaceted analyses of Trump's victory, informed by transnational experiences and alternative political frameworks. The South Asian perspective, represented by Charanjit Brar on WTOR 770 AM Nagara Radio in Mississauga, offers a striking contrast to mainstream Canadian coverage. Brar, an electrical engineer from Kolkata's Institution of Engineers with fifteen years of Canadian media experience, dismisses the significance of leadership changes entirely. "Whether it is Kamala Harris or Donald Trump, there will be no 'qualitative change,'" he argues, describing heads of state in both the U.S. and Canada as "paper tigers" within unchangeable systems. The ripple effects of Trump's victory reach as far as Indonesian media, with veteran journalist Lukia Aulia of Kompas (circulation 520,000) leading coverage in outlets including IDN Times, Jakarta Globe, and Katadata about potential migration pressures on Canadian borders. This Asian perspective brings forward concerns about regional stability and population movements that extend beyond North American frameworks. European-language media in Canada offers diverse interpretations. The Italian weekly Lo Specchio anticipates diplomatic challenges for Trudeau, while Spanish-language radio hosts Eric Sifuentes and Celia Urbalejo on 'Hola Toronto' (91.9 FM) critique Trudeau's earlier support for Harris. François Bergeron in the French weekly L'Express provides nuanced analysis of American electoral dynamics, particularly regarding women voters and polarization. Middle Eastern perspectives emerge through Iran Javan, a Farsi Toronto daily, which uniquely highlights concerns about Canada's defense spending in relation to Trump's unpredictable foreign policy. Meanwhile, Vietnamese reporting on Culture Channel focuses on economic implications, particularly regarding Trump's protectionist policies. The Polish daily Goniec takes a distinct position through Jacek Matysiak's analysis, celebrating Trump's victory as a halt to "globalist" advancement and contextualizing it within a global shift toward right-wing governance. Russian-language media, represented by A. Gladkov in Toronto Express, frames the victory through the lens of "freedom" while calling for reduced ideological polarization. These varied perspectives demonstrate how ethnic media enriches political discourse by:
The coming months will reveal how these varied predictions and concerns play out, but the ethnic media's complex, nuanced analysis already offers valuable insights that might otherwise be missed in national political discourse.
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British Columbia just gave us the political equivalent of a thrilling Netflix series finale! Ten days after the election, Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin finally asked NDP's David Eby to form a government - talk about keeping us in suspense! As CBC News projects, Eby squeaked through with the thinnest of victory margins. The plot thickens: We're still waiting on two recounts as of October 29, making this possibly the most drawn-out political cliffhanger in recent political history. Even if Team NDP hits the magical 47-seat jackpot, they'll need to collaborate with the Greens to get anything done. Meanwhile, Conservative Leader John Rustad has already declared his intent to do what he can to bring down the government. Now, let's dive into what the ethnic media is saying about this political drama with a first question: Why is ethnic media coverage of the British Columbia election relevant? The ethnic media coverage of BC's 2024 election reflects the province's diverse demographic makeup, where approximately 40% of residents identify as visible minorities or Indigenous peoples. The significant attention from South Asian media outlets aligns with the substantial South Asian population (around 7.3%) in BC, particularly concentrated in Surrey and the Fraser Valley. Similarly, the extensive Chinese media coverage mirrors the province's large Chinese-Canadian community, comprising nearly 11% of the population and heavily concentrated in Richmond and Vancouver. The varied perspectives across Punjabi, Muslim, Chinese, and Korean media outlets represent distinct communities within BC's multicultural landscape. European-descent residents, who make up about 60% of the population, tend to be more concentrated in Vancouver Island and the Interior, while the Lower Mainland showcases the province's full diversity, with nearly half of Metro Vancouver residents identifying as visible minorities. Indigenous peoples, who represent approximately 6% of BC's population and have a stronger presence in Northern BC, maintain distinct political interests and concerns. This demographic mosaic helps explain the complex electoral dynamics at play in the 2024 election, with different ethnic communities showing varying political preferences and priorities. The Conservative Party's success in Richmond's Chinese-majority ridings and their appeal to some South Asian voters over issues like SOGI 123 demonstrates how ethnic demographics can significantly influence electoral outcomes in BC's increasingly diverse political landscape. Punjabi Perspectives On daily Punjabi talk show Connect FM 91.5 Sver Wala Show, hosts Vijay Saini and Vasu Kumar provided some insights about why newcomers favoured the Conservatives. The hot-button issue? SOGI 123 in schools. Former education minister Rachna Singh discovered that defending this program against anti-2SLGBTQ+ discrimination wasn't exactly a winning strategy. While many expect the NDP to work with the Greens, Conservative Leader John Rustad shared insights in an October 22 interview with Harjinder Thind on the daily Punjabi radio program Red FM 93.1 Punjabi Morning: The Conservatives are also in talks with the Green Party. Despite fundamental differences, especially on the carbon tax, there are areas of shared interest. The NDP had an agreement with the Green Party in 2017, and the Greens felt that the NDP took advantage of them. On another Red FM talk show, Thind suggested the Conservatives could offer the Green Party the environment ministry. Pooja Sekhon speculated that Green Party supporters might disagree since “the Conservatives do not believe in climate change.” South Asian Media Analysis While Punjabi media caters to that language community, the more broad-based South Asian media uses English, one of India’s official languages. R. Paul Dhillon of the South Asian paper Desi Buzz BC said Rustad won over Kevin Falcon simply by having a better brand. The Conservative banner soared above Falcon’s “no-name brand BC United Party.” Yet Rustad didn’t quite win the election due to “a wacky mix of ‘out-there’ candidates.” That included some racist ones Rustad should have “canned” and “conspiracy-nut un-winnable ones, including some from the South Asian community.” Dhillon recommended that those who want an alternative to the NDP should return to a “sober brand” like BC Liberals. The South Asian paper The Link in Surrey provided balanced coverage, giving both the NDP and the Conservatives space to present their platforms. The Asian Pacific Post in Vancouver published a letter of advice from the right-wing think tank the ‘Frontier Centre for Public Policy’ to the incoming government, with suggestions on housing, taxation, health care, energy, forestry, and education policy. The twice monthly Asian Journal in Surrey, on the other hand, went into full NDP, featuring a full front-page ad and consistently reporting NDP perspectives. One article highlighted Surrey NDP candidates Baltej Dhillon and Rachna Singh announcing a commitment to removing barriers that prevent families from practicing their religious and cultural funeral rites after they have lost a loved one by making ash scattering sites accessible in waters across the province. Muslim Community Concerns Miracle News in Surrey, an English and Urdu-language bi-weekly, devoted much of its October 20 issue to the election. One article focused on the controversy around Surrey South Conservative Candidate Brent Chapman’s past social media comments, brought to light by CKNW radio host Jas Johal. Chapman had shared comments that referred to “Muslim inbreeding” and Palestinians being time bombs. Chapman apologized. The article was followed by an open letter of protest from the BC Muslim Association and a note that the chair of the White Rock Muslim Association, Asad Syed, demanded that Chapman withdraw from the race. Other articles highlighted health care wait times, a lack of school resources, and concerns about SOGI that have families considering a move abroad. Rising property taxes, cost of living, crime, drugs and homelessness were also discussed. Both parties fielded Muslim candidates, raising hopes for Muslim MLAs in Victoria. Chinese Community Views The daily Chinese program CHMB AM 1320 Cantonese's Chan Kwok-shen predicted a minority government with possibly a shorter life span than your average TikTok trend. In Chan’s analysis, the main problem with this election was that BC United withdrew too late, which made it difficult for the Conservatives to absorb their former candidates. Some ran as independents and ‘dragged down’ the Conservative candidates. The the Chinese website Van People website observed that Chinese voters lean Conservative due to their policies on drugs and gender education. Conservatives won three of four Richmond ridings. However, in the Steveston riding, independent candidate Jackie Lee used their signature blue colour scheme. With a platform that resonated with Chinese voters, he gained enough Conservative votes to allow for an NDP victory. Some Chinese community members have been upset, and Lee has been targeted by online criticism, attacks and death threats. Reader commentary on the Chinese website Vansky expressed concern about the cost of another election triggered by a short-lived minority government. Some feel that it doesn’t matter who is in office when they are not held accountable and don’t solve major issues like long wait times for health care. Korean Media Highlights The Korean Vancouver Chosun Ilbo followed the campaign and results closely. They highlighted the Conservatives’ miraculous zero-to-hero journey from no seats in 2020 to almost taking power. Reporter Son Sang-ho noted that Premier David Eby acknowledged that Rustad represented the British Columbians’ grievances well. Another article on Vancouver Chosun Ilbo focused on Paul Choi becoming the second Korean-Canadian member of the BC legislature. The NDP candidate had committed to preserving Koreatown, designating a Korean Day and establishing a Korean cultural centre in an interview with Vancouver Chosun Ilbo. The Importance of Ethnic Media And there you have it - BC politics 2024: a thrilling reminder that every vote counts, and that ethnic media play a crucial role in informing diverse newcomer communities and reflecting their concerns! MIREMS’ recent paper, Diaspora Dynamics Ethnic Media and Foreign Conflict in Multicultural Canada is an analysis of ethnic media and community reactions to the four recent conflicts that impact newcomer communities. Follow us on social media for our daily Ethnic Media Insights bringing the voices of Canadian ethnic and homeland international media on Canadian affairs. (The MIREMS Team, 2024-10-29) The escalating tensions between India and Canada have become headline news in both countries and internationally. The conversation in the public forum appears to centre around accusations of murder and interference. However, understanding the conflict in 2024 requires historical context. The bombing of Air India Flight 182 on June 23, 1985, is one frequently cited event. It was preceded by Operation Blue Star in June 1984. This Hindu government-driven operation aimed to secure the Golden Temple from Sikh militants using it as their base, but it resulted in a massacre of civilians and heavy damage to the sacred site. Following this, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984. Her assassination led to anti-Sikh riots, resulting in the death of thousands of Sikh civilians in widespread sectarian violence. These incidents are pivotal in understanding the historical context of Sikh grievances and the sense of persecution in India and continue to influence Sikh identity and politics today in Canada. So, if you thought the Israel-Palestine conflict was a quandary, the separatist idea of an independent Sikh Khalistan joins the list of exported homeland conflict to the Diaspora and has a similarly deep-rooted history. A Take from India Indian media often align with their government, labelling Hardeep Singh Nijjar a terrorist and dismissing accusations of Indian involvement in his murder and other alleged activities as "false propaganda." They accuse the Canadian government of using the situation to divert attention from domestic issues and appeal to the Sikh community for political gain. Outlets like Hindi TV9 Bharatvarsh out of the populous Northern State of Uttar Pradesh suggest that NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh supports the government in order to protect his pension and that both he and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seek Sikh votes by blaming India. These outlets emphasize the importance of trade and the role of Indian international students in Canada's economy, warning that the dispute could harm both countries economically. ABP News in the same region calls Canada’s allegations "absurd" and threatens that India's possible responses "will shock the Trudeau government." Options include stopping Indian students from studying in Canada, cancelling Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards, denying visas to certain Canadian citizens, and cancelling property rights of Indo-Canadians in India. If Canada imposes trade sanctions on India, reciprocal trade sanctions could also be imposed. The Navbharat Times daily paper, with a circulation of approximately 770,000 copies with an average issue readership of over two million people in Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Kanpur and other markets, accuses the Trudeau government of interfering in India’s internal affairs, highlighting that some cabinet members are associated with pro-Khalistan extremists. They argue that the Liberals rely on support from a party whose leader endorses separatism. New Delhi Television Limited, or NDTV, points to Canada’s alleged support of "Khalistani terrorists" as causing the current conflict, noting that the issue dates to the 1985 Air India bombing. They also cite People's Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier’s view that Nijjar should not have been a Canadian citizen due to refugee claims based on fraudulent documents. One does not need to read between the lines to recognize the thread of the Indian reaction to the idea of a separate Sikh state. What distinguishes it most from the Canadian reaction to the FLQ October Crisis in 1970 is perhaps the lower level of violence and the pacific outcome that led to the rise of the Parti Québécois (PQ) to power in 1976 and the formation of the Bloc Québécois (BQ) in 1990, all of which speak to the differences between Canadian and Indian democracies. The Parliament of India represents the largest democratic electorate in the world, but how does it handle things differently from the Canadian? South Asian Voices in Canada Given this blood-stained historical background and India’s low rank on the Freedom of the Press index (159th out of 180), it is not surprising that India’s media align with the Indian government. South Asian ethnic media in Canada have been drawing on both Canadian and Indian reporting related to the matter, but they have also brought in local perspectives. OMNI TV Punjabi, aired daily across Canada, for example, interviewed immigration consultant Nitin Chadha about the impact on visa processing. He says social media are making what is merely a diplomatic dispute look like a “war” has broken out. This has created panic among Canadians of Indian origin, who have been lining up at Visa Application Centres to get visas while they can. Chadha notes that visa processing and consular services continue, albeit with delays. OMNI has also interviewed Brampton small business owners concerned about trade sanctions affecting imports from India. They emphasize the widespread appreciation for South Asian cuisine in a bid to ensure continued access to imported ingredients. A local business spokesperson remarks on the longstanding relationship between Canada and India, likening it to a challenging marriage that has lasted so long that it is too difficult to have a divorce now. The network also features international students worried about the dispute’s impact on their education. It covers pro-Khalistan protests outside Indian consulates, where protesters claim India attacks not only dissidents but also Canadian sovereignty. The group Sikhs for Justice is demanding that the Indian consulates be shut down. However, Sikh community members at Visa Application Centres express a desire for consulates to remain open to ensure essential services, stating they feel no threat from their government. Points from the Peanut Gallery Interestingly, Chinese media in Canada find the dispute entertaining, likening it to Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou's detention. Netizens on the Chinese website Van People in Vancouver consider that India and Canada have become “the world's entertainment” because of their quarrel. They find it amusing that Canada said it would sanction India, while Canada’s economy is smaller than India's. They speculate that, unlike in the dispute with China, India’s strategic role in the US Indo-Pacific strategy means Trudeau may receive limited support from the US and its allies. Some commenters perceive Canada’s recent immigration restrictions as targeted attempts to reduce Indian influence. Some netizens on Calgary Life WeChat are suggesting expelling international students or hoping that India will withdraw them. Comments on Calgary Official WeChat virulently oppose what they see as “tribal disputes” in Canada and call on Indian protesters to go back to India and hold their protests there. They say if the protesters want to start a war, they should go back to India to do so, and Canada should deport them. Meanwhile, Joe Volpe, the editor of Italian-language daily Corriere Canadese, offers a historical perspective, comparing current events to past cases of foreign interference in Canada. He recalls that the activities of the Irish Fenian raiders from the Northeastern US were an impetus behind the Confederation of British North American Colonies that became Canada and that Irish activism in Canada continued until the Sein Fein was legitimized. He also highlights the internment and surveillance of Italian Canadians during World War II. These reflections underscore that concerns about foreign interference are not new to Canada. MIREMS’ Take from the Front Row Seat To lend another perspective to the discussion, foreign interference is an accusation levelled at Canadian activity abroad, in the Peruvian mining industry to cite just one example. In the current anti-immigrant opinion wave and given the connection between the conflict with India and the fate of international students, it is essential to avoid the demonization of fellow Canadians based on their opinions on anything, but particularly on their opinions of the politics in their countries of origin. Very often, the sins of those politics are visited on those who sought safe haven from them on Canadian soil. Four decades ago, an unnamed senior federal official at the then Secretariat of State for Multiculturalism made a remark to one of our colleagues that there was a danger that multiculturalism would be a Petri dish for diverse fundamentalisms. In today’s terminology, this might be translated into the idea that foreign interference is baked into our multicultural reality in the yin-yang of benevolent cooperation and hostile subversion. It is an unintended consequence of the policy that preaches harmony instead of assimilation. It becomes vulnerable in times of polarization and conflict, flaring up into ethnic, religious and political conflicts, of which there have been many over the years, mostly overseas, but most with domestic repercussions. MIREMS’ recent paper, Diaspora Dynamics Ethnic Media and Foreign Conflict in Multicultural Canada is an analysis of ethnic media and community reactions to the most recent of these conflicts. Follow us on social media for our weekly Ethnic Media Insights bringing the voices of Canadian ethnic and homeland international media on Canadian affairs. (The MIREMS Team, 2024-10-22) Tired of the same old political flavours? Well, buckle up because we're about to add some zest to your media diet with a dash of ethnic media perspectives! Picture this: You've got your Mainstream English Media, the meat and potatoes of Canadian news. It's reliable, it's everywhere, it runs the numbers and collates the stakeholder perspectives. Then there's the Quebec Media, the poutine of news if you will. It's got a bit more kick and serve up a hearty dose of "What's in it for Quebec?" with a side of skepticism towards Ottawa. But wait, there's more! Enter the Ethnic Media, the spicy curry in this news buffet. They're bringing a whole range of flavours you didn't even know you were missing! From the Chinese media, sticking close to the mainstream, to the Italian media with cartoonists’ humour and Spanish talk shows mourning the lack of manners in Parliament, all the way to vibrant discussions on Punjabi talk shows, the ethnic community media bring the spices, the herbs, and sometimes even the dessert! Mainstream English Media sides largely with Liberals The end of the Confidence and Supply Agreement thrust Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-François Blanchet into a position of influence in the House of Commons. He focused on two key demands: a 10% increase in Old Age Security (OAS) for seniors aged 65-74 and protection of supply management for farmers. A non-binding motion to increase OAS passed in the House, supported by the Conservatives and NDP but opposed by the Liberals. However, economists interviewed by the Globe and Mail raised concerns that this increase would divert resources from the Liberals' goal of supporting younger Canadians struggling with cost of living and housing issues. They suggested that increasing the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) for low-income seniors would be more targeted and effective. A Canadian Press article in the Toronto Star highlighted that the proposed increase contradicts the Liberals' recent focus on addressing the concerns of millennials and Gen Z Canadians. The article also noted that the increase would add $16 billion to the deficit over five years, conflicting with recent fiscal commitments. In an opinion piece for the Globe and Mail, Colin Busby of the C.D. Howe Institute argued against the OAS increase, citing concerns about worsening intergenerational tensions and the long-term fiscal impact of such a move. He pointed out that working-age Canadians have higher poverty rates than seniors and that the cost of the proposed increase would grow as the population ages, while being politically difficult to reverse. Quebec Media sides with the Bloc Quebec media generally shows more sympathy towards the Bloc Quebecois' position and focuses more on the supply management proposal. Le Devoir's Boris Proulx reported that independent Senators appointed by the Liberals are slowing down the passage of the bill to exempt the supply-managed sectors from free trade negotiations, potentially increasing the chance of an election. Blanchet criticized this as undemocratic. In a Canadian Press article in Le Devoir, Blanchet noted increased Canadian interest in the Bloc Quebecois now that they are power brokers at the federal level. As Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's objected to federal negotiations with Quebec separatists, Blanchet suggested that Western Canada create its own bloc. Sandrine Vieira, also writing for Le Devoir, reported on Blanchet justifying his deals with the Liberals to his constituency, emphasizing that his goal is to secure wins for Quebec rather than keep the Liberals in power or help the Conservatives. Writing for La Presse, Mylene Crête covered efforts to expedite Bill C-282 on supply management, highlighting Trade Minister Mary Ng's push for progress and Blanchet's criticism of senators holding up the bill. Crête also reported on the Bloc Quebecois' pension demand, noting its widespread support in Quebec and the party's proposal to offset costs by cutting oil and gas subsidies. The Journal de Montreal's Josée Legault reported on a poll showing increased support for the Bloc Quebecois, attributing it to Blanchet's approach to defending seniors and farmers. She also pointed out that Blanchet’s calm tone in an otherwise chaotic parliament is appealing. She noted growing tension between Blanchet and Premier François Legault. And the Ethnic Media sides with… read on and tell us The Chinese media largely echoed English mainstream reporting on Blanchet's demands and the Liberals' opposition to the pension increase vote backed by four opposition parties. Meanwhile, the Italian-Canadian press added a dash of humor to the political drama. The daily newspaper Corriere Canadese in Toronto tickled readers with cartoons: one showing Blanchet, armed with a lengthy list of demands, firmly planting his foot on Prime Minister Trudeau's back, and another depicting NDP and Bloc Quebecois leaders as angelic guardians hovering over Trudeau's shoulders, fending off a grim reaper-esque Pierre Poilievre. The paper also delved into the provincial tug-of-war between Premier Legault and Blanchet, with Legault bristling at Blanchet's perceived coziness with Trudeau. Other Italian-Canadian outlets, including the weekly Il Cittadino and the daily CFMB AM 1280's Italian Morning radio program, both based in Montreal, kept their audience well-informed on the unfolding political soap opera. Toronto's daily Spanish-language program on CHIN Radio 91.9 FM didn't pull any punches in their September 26 talk show. Discussants bemoaned the decline in parliamentary decorum, painting a picture of flying insults and a beleaguered Speaker constantly playing referee. They predicted this political food fight would continue until election season. Over in Edmonton, the daily Punjabi Shaam Wala Show on Connect FM 101.7 became a sounding board for seniors' concerns. On October 8, hosts and guests alike expressed optimism that the Liberals would cave to pension increase demands and hoped for NDP support of the Bloc's motion. Two days later, on Connect FM 91.5 in Surrey, host Vasu Kumar played political chess analyst. He reasoned that the Bloc Quebecois, inspired by the Liberals' support for the NDP's pharmacare plan, expected similar cooperation on pensions. Kumar also called out the Conservatives' support for the increase as mere political theatre, noting their non-commitment to actually implementing it if elected. Finally, Radio Humsafar 1350 AM's Khabarsar program, a Punjabi talk radio program hosted by Jagdish Grewal, turned into a virtual town hall on October 4. Callers flooded the lines, their voices united in a chorus of concern over the rising cost of living and the urgent need for pension increases. The message was clear: surviving on current pension amounts is becoming an increasingly difficult balancing act. Putting it all together So, why should you care about this smorgasbord of perspectives? Well, dear reader, it's simple. While the mainstream media might be serving up the meat and potatoes of Canadian politics, the ethnic media is bringing the curry, the tortillas and the dumplings, but more importantly, a flavour of home-made grassroots political cooking seasoned with lived experiences of homeland parliamentary misbehaviour. They're not just reporting the news; they're giving us a peek into how different communities are processing these political shenanigans. It's like having a backstage pass to Canada's cultural mosaic, a mosaic that weighs heavily on the demographics of major Canadian urban ridings. So next time you're digesting your daily news, why not sprinkle in some ethnic media perspective? It might just be the secret ingredient your political understanding has been missing. After all, in the great Canadian cookbook of democracy, every flavour counts! Remember, folks: a balanced media diet is a healthy media diet. Stay tuned for our upcoming report on ethnic media reactions to Canada and India expelling each others’ diplomats amid the murder investigation of a Sikh activist in B.C. For our July 2024 report on this and other homeland conflicts impacting the Canadian Diaspora communities, see “Diaspora Dynamics: Ethnic Media and Foreign Conflict in Multicultural Canada.” (The MIREMS Team, 2024-10-15) Background and Inquiry Findings Canada has been grappling with the issue of foreign interference since early 2023, through a public inquiry examining interference attempts by China, India, Russia, and other foreign actors in recent federal elections. While the inquiry's interim findings suggested limited impact on election outcomes, they highlighted the erosion of public confidence in Canada's democratic institutions as a significant concern. How does foreign influence of different homeland regimes through ethnic media erode Canadian confidence in its democracy? Chinese and South Asian Canadian community journalists gave detailed descriptions from their point of view of how their respective homeland governments interact with their communities. As multilingual media analysts, our team has been tracking the issue objectively across 30 languages and more than 600 sources across Canada and worldwide. The Need for Continuous Monitoring The inquiry's focus on specific election periods, while important, may overlook the continuous nature of foreign influence operations. Ongoing monitoring of ethnic media provides valuable insights into evolving narratives and interference attempts between election cycles, allowing for more proactive responses. Regular analysis of ethnic media content helps identify early signs of disinformation campaigns and opinion manipulation, enabling timely interventions to maintain public trust in democratic processes. Diverse Media Landscape and Consumption Patterns The Chinese-Canadian Media Ecosystem Hong Kong-born journalist Victor Ho provided insights into media consumption patterns within the Chinese-Canadian community, noting differences between Hong Kong immigrants and mainland Chinese newcomers. This highlights the importance of monitoring both English-language and Chinese-language media to get a comprehensive picture of information flows within the community. Ho recommended that the Canadian government should monitor what happens in the Chinese media in Canada. Columnist and broadcaster Ronald Leung said a lot of Chinese media in Canada get their news from the Hong Kong newspapers. Chinese radio in Canada is still majority Cantonese, even though the majority of the Chinese community is now Mandarin. Mandarin speakers from mainland China get their news from homeland sources on the Internet. Content and Influence in Chinese-Canadian Media While local Canadian news is presented in Chinese media with diverse views, it often emphasizes divisive issues on which the Chinese-Canadian community tends to disagree with Canadian approaches, such as drug policy, gender identity, crime and human rights. Certain matters like Taiwan, Hong Kong independence, the Uyghurs, Tibet and the democratic movement in China are taboo, and discussions of other news toe the official line of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Ho added that most local Chinese-language media has been influenced, if not outright controlled by, the CCP for years. If the CCP seeks to interfere in Canada's democratic process, one of its most effective tools is the Chinese language media. Mostly, narrative control is exercised through self-censorship within ownership and management structures aligned with the CCP. In addition, business and community leaders in the community who are close to the local consulate are used as proxies to keep media outlets in line. “They don’t use the consul general to call your people, because that’s too obvious. They use the community advertiser. They use people, especially the traditional Chinese organization leaders, somebody that will come to your office or gives you a ring to have a coffee chat, and then tries to explain the reason why this kind of article is very important.” The subtle approach to influence, often through community leaders and advertisers, highlights the need for sophisticated monitoring techniques that can detect nuanced changes in media narratives over time. This underscores the need for regular monitoring and analysis to identify patterns of influence and potential breaches of journalistic integrity. Regulatory Limitations and Shifting Media Landscape While there are calls for increased regulation of ethnic media through bodies like the CRTC, the shift towards internet-based radio stations and social media consumption presents challenges. Social media platforms like WeChat, Weibo, WhatsApp, and TikTok are frequently used to spread pro-CCP messaging. This evolving landscape necessitates a more comprehensive approach to monitoring that goes beyond traditional media. The South Asian Media Perspective Vulnerability of Small Media Outlets Journalist Gurpreet Singh testified about the vulnerability of ethnic media in the South Asian community, with many outlets run by small family operations susceptible to influence from business groups or foreign entities. This highlights the need for a comprehensive monitoring strategy that encompasses ethnic media serving various communities. Businesspeople who are close to Indian diplomats can influence a media outlet through their sponsorship and advertising. Singh said monitoring should be intensified of these proxies, especially during election time, as they can influence the voters through various means, including the media outlets. Taboo Topics and Pressure on Journalists Taboo issues in the Indian media include Kashmir, Khalistan, the Air India bombing, and the caste system. Journalists who cover these issues get pushback from proxies of the Indian consulate, such as prominent local businesspeople or community leaders. If critical reporting persists, the journalists are excluded from consular events and may be denied visas to India or have their overseas citizenship card revoked. Some journalists fear they will be arrested for their political views if they travel to India. Some are threatened with consequences for the careers of family members. Journalists favouring the Indian government’s perspectives are rewarded with travel opportunities, event invitations and advertising. This complex web of influences affecting ethnic media content underscores the importance of regular monitoring and analysis to identify shifts in coverage of sensitive topics. Beyond the Chinese and South Asian communities If one looks beyond these communities, in the last decade and a half there are many other instances of foreign interference in Canadian affairs and with expat communities. Russian interference in Canada has focused on election meddling, disinformation campaigns, and cyberattacks. They have targeted government networks, attempted to influence public opinion through social media, and sought to exacerbate societal divisions. Russian-backed entities have also tried to infiltrate Canadian media outlets and academic institutions to promote pro-Russian narratives and undermine trust in democratic processes. Iranian interference efforts include cyber espionage, targeting Canadian government agencies and businesses to steal sensitive data. They have also attempted to influence academic institutions and leverage community organizations to shape public opinion. Iran has been accused of using its embassy (before its closure in 2012) to promote its interests and influence Iranian-Canadians. Other countries, including North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and various Eastern European nations, have also been implicated in interference attempts. These often involve cyberattacks, propaganda dissemination, and attempts to influence policy through funding of think tanks or advocacy groups. To combat these diverse threats, Canada needs a comprehensive approach to monitoring and countering foreign interference, while realizing that it is a predictable but containable side effect of a robust multicultural policy. This includes robust cybersecurity measures, legislative reforms, and continuous monitoring of ethnic media and other channels of influence. Specialized services that can analyze multilingual content across various platforms will be crucial in identifying and addressing these evolving challenges to Canada's democratic integrity. Strategies for Effective Ongoing Monitoring of Ethnic Media To implement effective ongoing monitoring of ethnic media, several strategies can be employed, not only by government but by other organizations within Canada’s diverse society:
By implementing these and other strategies, policymakers and stakeholders can enhance their understanding of the ethnic media landscape and better address the challenges of foreign interference in Canada's multicultural democracy. We at MIREMS have been tracking ethnic media for decades, so we are very glad to hear the voices of key journalists describe the complex ethnic media world for the general public. The full session can be found at https://fic-cie.isi.sh/2024/2024-10-01/english-cc/. It’s worth your time as a concerned Canadian, whether currently in public office or not. Services like those offered by MIREMS, with its long-standing expertise in multilingual media monitoring and analysis, can play a crucial role in this ongoing effort to safeguard the integrity of Canada's information ecosystem. Our recent study on Diaspora Dynamics delves into the reactions of ethnic media in Canada to four distinct conflicts: the alleged Chinese interference in Canadian elections, the assassination of a Sikh leader in Canada, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the Israel-Palestine conflict. It can be found at https://www.mirems.com/conferences.html (The MIREMS Team, 2024-10-07) Have you wondered what the Chinese Canadian media is saying about Trudeau? Or what some of the South Asian takes are on the Conservative declarations of non-confidence? In the fall of 2024, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberal government found itself waltzing on a political tightrope. With the opposition Conservatives eager to topple the government, Trudeau faces a series of non-confidence votes in the House of Commons. The first motion was defeated 211-120, but the dance is far from over. Ethnic media have been following mainstream reporting on these developments, but they also have their own lively takes. Lei Yuzhi of the Canadian Chinese Times in Calgary criticized Trudeau for being slow to revitalize the economy post-pandemic, accusing him of playing geopolitical games with China to please the US. Tariffs on electric vehicles, steel, and aluminum have driven up prices and set back Canada’s progress on energy conservation and environmental protection by making electric vehicles less affordable. They also sparked Chinese countermeasures, impacting canola farmers in Alberta and Saskatchewan. On the Chinese news website Vansky in Vancouver, some commenters blamed former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole’s anti-China stance for his election loss, allowing “Potato” (Trudeau) to win. Meanwhile, Calgary Life WeChat users lamented both Trudeau and Singh as "terrible," suggesting a vote for the People’s Party of Canada as an alternative since they can’t vote for the Conservatives. In Edmonton, the Punjabi Shaam Wala Show on Connect FM 101.7 hosted former Liberal candidate Sukhdev Aujla, who criticized the Conservatives for tabling no confidence motions every other day, knowing that the motions will not succeed. The Conservatives are wasting Parliament’s time and taxpayers’ money on these motions rather than focusing on policy issues. Aujla predicted the next federal budget would be a showdown. Vancouver’s Red FM 93.1 Roshni host Harpreet Singh echoed the sentiment that the Conservatives are wasting the valuable time of the Parliament with motions it knows will fail. Meanwhile, guest Pooja Sekhon took a swipe at the NDP and Bloc for backing Liberal “corruption,” despite praising the dental care program and pension increase initiatives. Across the ocean, Indian media focus on Jagmeet Singh’s Khalistan ties and Trudeau’s tensions with India, especially regarding the Hardeep Singh Nijjar incident. The Hindi TV9 Bharatvarsh in Noida pointed out that Singh has withdrawn his support from the Liberals despite Trudeau’s “pro-Khalistan advocacy.” Simantik Dowerah in Mumbai’s Firstpost highlighted Trudeau's rocky trade relations with China and strained ties with India, thanks to his controversial stances and perceived leniency towards the separatist group. Deliberate efforts by foreign governments to support candidates friendly to their interests are currently subject to public inquiry. An eye on the ethnic and homeland media offers a kaleidoscope of perspectives on the homeland-specific issues shaping opinions and electoral choices in Canada's vibrant multicultural electorate. (The MIREMS Team, 2024-10-01) In Canada's diverse media landscape, two distinct voices emerge when covering international student issues: the familiar mainstream media and the lesser-known ethnic media. While both play crucial roles in informing the public, their approaches and focuses often differ, offering complementary perspectives on this complex topic. Mainstream media, with its broad reach and resources, tend to focus on official-language institutional, business and academic spokespersons. They often emphasize government announcements, economic and demographic implications, and institutional responses. On the other hand, ethnic media, published in various languages and catering to specific communities, delve deeper into the personal stories and challenges faced by international students themselves and into community concerns, perceptions and responses. Interviews with experts and advocates from the respective communities explain policies and trends in the language and cultural code the audience understands. This article explores how these two media streams work in tandem to paint a comprehensive picture of the international student experience in Canada. By understanding both perspectives, we can gain valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of this important issue. Mainstream Canadian Media On September 18, 2024, Canada’s Immigration Minister Marc Miller and Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault announced new policies that capped international student numbers, sparking concern among universities, colleges, and businesses. The Canadian Press quickly reported pushback, particularly regarding the inclusion of graduate students in the cap, which raised fears about Canada’s reputation as an education destination. Universities expressed concerns that visa complications and restrictions on spousal work permits could lead prospective students to choose other countries. Toronto Star Columnist Armine Yalnizyan emphasized the importance of immigrants in addressing Canada’s aging population and workforce needs, advocating for permanent immigration, especially in rural areas. Meanwhile, CBC highlighted the struggles of international students, particularly students from India, who make up 41% of Canada’s international student population. Issues such as high living costs, predatory landlords, and questionable colleges were cited, with Toronto immigration lawyer Sergio R. Karas suggesting a moratorium on study permits due to the system’s overwhelming scale. Businesses also voiced concerns, with the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association criticizing the lack of consultation and pointing to labour shortages. Advocacy groups noted that many temporary foreign workers are experts in essential fields. Universities, particularly in rural areas, have been hit hard, facing program cuts, hiring freezes, and a significant drop in international applications. Immigration Minister Miller shifted responsibility to provincial governments, emphasizing that the privilege of hosting international students requires proper funding. Ethnic Media in Canada Ethnic media in Canada have been just as busy covering the international student story. Like their mainstream counterparts, many started by simply reporting the government’s announcement, featuring footage from the press conference by Miller and Boissonnault. From The Korea Daily in Vancouver to Farsi-language daily Salam Toronto, the news spread quickly. Some outlets, like Toronto-based Tamil daily radio East FM 102.7, the Toronto Chinese daily outlet 51.ca, and the national and multilingual OMNI TV, juxtaposed this announcement with stories about how Ontario nearly balanced its budget thanks to international student tuition. But what sets ethnic media apart? Community-Specific Perspectives Ethnic media bring in voices from their own communities and speak directly to their readers in their own languages. For example, OMNI News Filipino interviewed immigration consultant Debbie Piandong, who explained how difficult it is for college students to switch programs halfway through their studies if they want to remain eligible for a post-graduation work permit. Meanwhile, OMNI News Punjabi spoke with immigration expert Kanwar Sierah, who pointed out that the sudden policy change feels like a betrayal for students who came to Canada expecting a clear path to a work permit. Over at OMNI News Italian, Ilaraia Ferrati from Woori Education Group explained how the number of Italian students had already been declining, as young Italians are mostly opting for Working Holiday visas instead. The Toronto Spanish papers El Popular and Correo Canadiense, with an estimated combined circulation of 75,000, printed a column by immigration expert Vilma Filici reviewing the shifts in international student policy during the pandemic and now. Filici finds it unfair for international students to pay the price for the federal government’s over-correcting of student numbers during the pandemic. Filici also considers it “absurd” to require additional language testing for post-graduation work permits, since students already have to pass a language test for admission to a Canadian college or university. Ongoing Reporting on Community Concerns Ethnic media also take the time to check in on issues affecting their communities, even between major government announcements. For instance, Salam Toronto, OMNI TV Punjabi, and East FM 102.7 have all have been reporting on the disturbing issue of female international students facing sexual exploitation by landlords and offers of reduced rent for roommates with benefits. On the brighter side, the Toronto-based Japanese monthly Torja shared stories of mature international students who came to Canada to change careers or upgrade their skills. The piece highlighted the Canadian trend of people returning to school mid-career, which was inspiring for students from cultures where this is not as common. However, not all voices are optimistic. Some Chinese media outlets, like Vancouver dailies Van People and the Canada News Network, have reflected concerns about the influx of Indian students. For example, a Van People writer expressed discomfort with the growing number of Indian students working in fast food outlets, gas stations, and delivery jobs, feeling that Indian students have been dominating the job market since the pandemic. The writer also noted a sense of growing anti-Indian sentiment within some parts of the Chinese community. Ethnic media have also been covering ongoing protests by international students. Chinese websites like dailies Calgary Life WeChat, Calgary Official WeChat and Van People in Vancouver reported on Indian international students protesting in Prince Edward Island after the province refused to participate in a work permit program. Many comments on the Chinese websites sided with the government and derided the protesters, criticizing their sense of entitlement to work permits and permanent residency. Meanwhile, Indian media like the national TV OMNI News Punjabi and PTC Punjabi TV supported the protests, highlighting calls for work permit renewals and better pathways to permanent residency. Conclusion The contrast between mainstream and ethnic media coverage of international student issues highlights the importance of diverse perspectives in journalism. While mainstream outlets tend to provide a broad view of policy changes and their national and local impact, ethnic media offer a more nuanced, community-focused view by bringing in voices from within their own communities. They provide a platform for community-specific concerns, cultural context, and ongoing coverage of issues that may otherwise go unnoticed. Ethnic media offer a deeper connection to the lived experiences of the students and communities directly affected. By embracing both viewpoints, the reader can develop a more holistic and nuanced understanding that different newcomer communities have different perspectives on each other and on policy matters. This comprehensive approach not only benefits the international students but also enriches our national dialogue on education, immigration, and cultural diversity. Moving forward, there is an opportunity for mainstream media to incorporate more grassroots perspectives and personal stories into their coverage. Similarly, ethnic media could benefit from broader dissemination of their insights to reach a wider audience. By bridging these two worlds, we can foster a more inclusive and informed public discourse on international student issues in Canada. (The MIREMS Team, 2024-09-24) Canadian politics just got a whole lot more interesting! The political "bromance" between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party and Jagmeet Singh's New Democratic Party (NDP) has officially hit the rocks. After months of working together, Singh decided to call it quits, leaving the Liberals without the NDP's support. And everyone is talking about it – from Canadian ethnic media to political commentators halfway across the globe. The Breakup Heard 'Round the Country MIREMS – Multilingual International Research and Ethnic Media Services – tracked over 120 stories about this political split from Canadian ethnic media within a week. Many followed the mainstream storyline as per the grand leaders’ social media posts and press conferences: Singh pulled the plug, accusing Trudeau of putting corporate interests before everyday Canadians. The NDP leader said Trudeau wasn’t doing enough on big issues like housing, inflation, and keeping corporations in check. He accused Trudeau of prioritizing corporate interests over the welfare of Canadians. Ouch! Now people are wondering if this means Trudeau's government is on shaky ground. The Conservatives? They're already calling for early elections (no surprise there). Trudeau, on the other hand, is trying to keep cool, saying he’s going to stay focused on affordability and climate change, even though the pressure on him to step down is growing louder by the minute – and not just from the opposition. LGBTQ2+ allies are calling for him to step aside and make room for someone with a chance to stop the Conservatives, who they perceive as clear and present danger. The Liberal candidate in the Montreal by-election hides away the party leader’s face. The Punjabi Perspective In the Punjabi media, the news was, well, huge. On Edmonton’s Connect FM 101.7’s Shaam Wala Show, political analyst Naresh Bhardwaj explained that Singh had already achieved a lot of his party's goals through the deal with the Liberals – things like childcare, dental care, and pharmacare. But now, he’s ready to bail before the Liberals’ sinking ship takes him down with it. Smart move, right? Former Ontario Liberal MPP Harinder Takhar shared his thoughts on Red FM 88.9 Good Morning Toronto and CJMR 1320 Punjab Di Goonj, explaining that Singh was getting pressure from all sides – including Conservatives and unions – to end the deal. The unions were offended by the Trudeau government imposing binding arbitration in the rail workers’ strike, and the NDP membership is growing impatient with the lack of effective action on affordability. Takhar doesn’t think Singh is trying to force an election just yet, though. It’s more a matter of political positioning. Shameel Jasvir, the host of Good Morning Toronto on Red FM, considers the NDP “deceitful” for breaking their promise with the Liberals early. India’s Hot Take: Khalistan Controversy Meanwhile, the media in India was all over this story too, but with a twist. Many outlets, including the national Dainik Bhaskar, the Times of India in Mumbai, the Navbharat Times in Delhi, the Bharat Express in Noida (Greater Delhi), and the Dainik Jagran in Kanpur, as well as TV9 Bharatvarsh, focused on Singh’s alleged ties to pro-Khalistan groups (a hot-button issue in India). Dainik Bhaskar reminded readers that Singh was denied a visa to India in 2013 because of accusations that he was involved in anti-India activities. Shambhunath Shukla at TV9 Bharatvarsh commented that Singh left Justin Trudeau in the lurch, after Trudeau opposed India on Singh’s behest. He wondered whether Trudeau might stay quiet on the issue of Khalistan and the Nijjar murder now that Singh is no longer in his corner. The Times of India went a step further, claiming that Singh’s political strategy has involved cozying up to pro-Khalistan groups and accusing both him and Trudeau of pandering to voters who support Khalistan. They pointed out that both leaders attended a Khalsa Day rally in Toronto where pro-Khalistan chants were heard and banners displayed. Chinese Media: A Different Kind of Worry In Canada’s Chinese-language media, the conversation was a little different. Some outlets were more focused on the NDP being too left-wing for their taste. Discussions on the Chinese 51.ca website called on community members to vote Conservative because Canada needs to return to traditional values. One post claimed that Trudeau deceived Canadians while Singh deceived Trudeau. Other commenters on 51.ca called the Liberal-NDP alliance an “affront to democracy.” Comments on the Chinese Canada News Network website in Vancouver even suggested that if Singh ever became Prime Minister, it would “bring Canada to full destruction.” Over on WeChat, the conversation turned to concerns about the influence of the Sikh community in Canadian politics. Posts on the Calgary Life WeChat call for Chinese Canadians to exercise their influence and vote out Trudeau without letting the NDP in, unless they “want Canada to become another India.” Comments posted on the Edmonton WeChat noted that while the Indian and Chinese communities in Canada each make up around 4% of the population, the Indian community seems to have more visibility. Some even said that the Indian community’s cheerful and carefree attitude helps them dominate service industries. The Indian community is seen as more united, which gives them an advantage in elections. So, What’s Next? With the NDP stepping back, Trudeau’s government is in for a bumpy ride. The Conservatives are rubbing their hands together, hoping for early elections, while Trudeau is trying to reassure everyone he’s still got things under control. And of course, ethnic media across Canada – and even in India – is buzzing with speculation, criticism, and a healthy dose of drama. Grab your popcorn, folks. Canadian politics just got a whole lot more interesting, and it looks like this show is far from over! (The MIREMS Team, 2024-09-17) By MIREMS Editor-in-Chief Silke Reichrath
In the current electoral context, ethnic media have a two-fold role of reflecting national political messages to diverse multilingual audiences – as illustrated in our previous blog [http://www.mirems.com/mirems-blog/ethnic-media-shine-spotlight-on-electoral-uncertainty-for-trudeau] - and of illuminating local political dynamics within these multilingual segments of the population. This includes coverage of election issues relevant to the audience, like immigration, anti-racism policies and Canada’s relationship to the respective homeland, and the participation of candidates across the political spectrum from the respective ethno-cultural group. Candidates running from an ethnic group capture significant attention in the multilingual and ethnic media and are often seen as representing not just the local riding and the party, but also the ethno-cultural group of their ancestry. MIREMS captured about 80 stories featuring local candidates. Initially they focused on criticism of Vancouver Granville Liberal candidate Taleeb Noormohamed over his history of house flipping and of Kitchener Centre Liberal candidate Raj Saini over inappropriate conduct towards female staffers. Then over the last week to ten days of the campaign, a lot of ethnic media outlets ran interviews or features on candidates from their ethnic group as well as comparative reviews of the candidates in certain ridings, particularly in Brampton. OMNI Punjabi ran overviews of each Brampton riding on successive days. On September 13, commentators on 1350 AM Ramz Punjabi felt that Liberal candidates have high chances to win in all five Brampton ridings and that the Conservatives have said that Brampton is not on their wish list. Portuguese media focused on the race in York South-Weston, while Filipino media focused on the Little Manila riding of York Centre. In addition to covering ethnic candidates and races in multi-ethnic ridings, several ethnic media contributions showed an active concern for political participation among their group, including encouraging people to vote so that their voices may be heard and worrying about representation of their ethnic group by candidates from that group. On September 14, OMNI Filipino featured a virtual meet-and-greet of Justin Trudeau with four Filipino-Canadian candidates. Oxford County candidate Elizabeth Quinto is running because she wants not only Oxford County, but also the 900,000 strong Filipino community to have a voice in Ottawa as it has been two decades since Filipinos have been represented. On September 9, Toronto-based Spanish newspaper Correo Canadiense featured Hispanic Liberal candidate Pablo Rodríguez and NDP candidate Matías de Dovitiis. Both pointed to a need for Latinos to be more active in Canada’s political life and to be represented - the Hispanic community is very big, but it has no political representation. Meanwhile, on September 16, two Chinese websites from Vancouver, Vansky and Van People, both ran articles showing concern for a decline in the number of Chinese candidates, following an analysis in Ottawa’s CFC NEWS on August 27. There are currently 17 Chinese candidates, compared to 40 candidates in 2019, 25 in 2015 and 23 in 2011. Ding Guo, a political commentator in Metro Vancouver, believes that there are fewer Chinese candidates because Chinese candidates are “a little unacceptable”. He explained that this is due to the pressure of racial discrimination caused by the pandemic and the unprecedented state of Canada-China relations. The Chinese Communist Party has become a common opponent of Western countries, making Chinese candidates feel that they cannot “move up” in the party. In addition, Chinese media and the Voices of Overseas Chinese had difficulties getting candidates to attend their proposed all-party forums in the Vancouver area, according to Van People. Broadcasting from Oakville, Ont., CJMR Punjab Di Goonj reported on September 9 that a total of 47 Punjabis are contesting the election, which is similar to the 2019 elections. Nevertheless, there was some concern about high-profile Punjabis retiring from politics or not winning nominations because the Punjabi vote was split among multiple candidates at the nomination stage, according to Toronto’s Punjabi newspaper Hamdard Weekly. A Canadian Press analysis found at least 77 indigenous candidates this year, compared with 62 in 2019. Operation Black Vote Canada has reported a slight increase in the number of Black candidates to 60. In 2019, there were reportedly 45 Black candidates, but only five were elected, as reported by Jeremiah Rodriguez on CTV News1 on September 2. Election day will show how many of these candidates were in winnable ridings and which ethnic groups will garner representation in the House of Commons. Regardless of the outcome, the ethnic media can be counted on to provide insights into the microcosm of diverse ridings and constituencies, as well as into the specific issues of concern for minority groups. https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/federal-election-2021/advocates-disappointed-by-lack-of-racial-diversity-among-major-parties-candidates-1.5571347 MIREMS continues to closely watch the federal elections through the eyes and ears of Canada’s ethnic media. Please see below for a selection of translated multilingual stories providing a diverse perspective on the election campaign as we round the final bend before September 20.
Liberals and their election platform - Punjabi Description: Jagdish Grewal - The show began with a criticism of the manner in which the Liberals have gate-kept Justin Trudeau from an interview with the host of the show. He spoke about how he has always been considerate of MPs' privacy, and never personally attacked them, preferring to stick to policy questions. The host was disappointed by the fact that, apart from Liberal MP Ruby Sahota, whom the host held in great regard for her bravery and commitment to Sikh and Muslim communities, no other Liberals had reached out to his show to discuss their new platform. MP Sahota had forwarded the show a list of talking points about the Liberals' platform, which was discussed. It included actions against the flipping of real estate, new vaccination protocols and universal public health care, sustainability and climate change directives, the taxation of big banks, and the protection of communities from gun violence, as well as fighting racism and providing drinking water to Indigenous communities across Canada. With Trudeau announcing this platform, Erin O'Toole was also heavily criticized by the Liberals for not mentioning racism in the Conservatives' platform. Currently, in Quebec, the Liberals are in the lead, but a co-host said that he was certain that the Conservatives would be able to form a minority government. The polls show both parties neck-and-neck, and the Liberals' platform release had not really benefited their standing. The question remained whether the Conservatives would be able to run successfully against the Bloc Quebecois in Quebec, since the NDP would not align with them. The co-host also pointed out how Trudeau's performance at press conferences was dismal, and that he seems uncertain of his own political standing. RADIO - WTOR 770 AM Asian Awaz - Toronto, 02/09/2021 - COMMENTARY, 10 mins, Punjabi Early elections ordered by Trudeau could blow up right in his face! - Romanian Description: Petru Clej - When he asked the Governor General to dissolve the House of Commons [sic] and [called] elections on September 20, Prime Minister Trudeau hoped to capitalize on the relatively good results in combatting the coronavirus, in contrast to the neighbour to the south. However, in the course of the campaign, Trudeau was often met with hostility. After starting the election campaign with a lead in the polls compared to the Conservative party led by Erin O’Toole, Trudeau has started to lose ground and now is practically equal with his principal centre-right rivals. In the previous federal election in 2019, Trudeau was unable to obtain the absolute majority with which he came into power for the first time in 2015, and this year, alongside anti-vaccine protests, he had to also face the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, where Canadians, like other westerners, were not filled with glory. In fact, Trudeau, at 49 years of age, has rather disappointed in the six years he has been in power. The son of the famous former prime minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Justin Trudeau, as time went on, [left] more and more people disappointed by this politician who seems more interested in gratuitous gestures, such as when he dressed in Hindu [sic] clothing during a visit to India, and he is accused by his adversaries of lacking in consistency and of not fulfilling his election promises. This year, he has to face a formidable opponent for prime minister, the new Conservative leader Erin O’Toole, a lawyer who is not really charismatic but who is very precise in his criticism of Trudeau. On the left, Trudeau is competing with the charismatic leader of the NDP, Jagmeet Singh, the son of Sikh immigrants from India, who especially addresses the young and the disadvantaged voters. The next three weeks will be as decisive for Trudeau as much as for O’Toole. Either way, Trudeau is the one who wanted this election to obtain an absolute majority and the political bomb that he threw on August 15 could blow up right in his face on September 20. PRINT - Faptu Divers - Toronto, 01/09/2021 - ARTICLE, p. 13, Romanian Erin O’Toole is unfriendly towards China - Chinese Description: No Byline - Since Erin O’Toole was chosen as Conservative Party leader, many Chinese community members have been paying attention to him, because he loves to talk about China. Even though Conservatives were never friendly towards the Chinese, O’Toole appears to be more radical and firm compared to Andrew Scheer. O’Toole blamed the tense Canada and China relations on the Trudeau government, calling them “weak” and said the federal government “had made serious mistakes on security and trade issues”. He also called for the establishment of a committee to investigate Canada - China relations. Trudeau emphasized that there is no need to further escalate the conflict between Canada and China. After many Chinese people learned about O’Toole’s attitude, they all expressed support for the Liberals. A netizen had lots of opinions about the Liberals, but now they can only vote for the Liberals, because the Conservatives are worse. Another netizen said that Canada is a multicultural country. If the right-wing Conservatives are elected, then Canada’s multiculturalism will disappear, and WeChat will also be banned. WeChat is a critical mobile app to many Chinese. They use this tool to communicate with their families and friends. The news about banning WeChat has caused many Chinese Canadians to object. https://www.vansky.com/news/char/191828.html WEB - Vansky - Vancouver, 30/08/2021 - ARTICLE, 1 page web, Chinese The invisible campaign in Brampton - Punjabi Description: While in the previous election, party workers would knock on doors up to three times in the run up to the elections. The host said he had not heard at all from either the Conservatives or the NDP. Are the parties taking it easy this time, or has something changed for Brampton? The guest on the show said that these elections belong to COVID-19. Usually, there are volunteers putting up signs, and going door to door, but the pandemic has prevented this. Secondly, 1.3 million people have already voted in advance, while 6-7 million people are voting via ballots, so this has made the physical manifestations of the election seem absent. No major leaders appeared in Brampton -- is it because they already know who is going to win in the region? The guest said that Brampton has always been a battleground, remembering how Stephen Harper would campaign in the region. This time, only Trudeau paid Brampton a short visit, and no other leader even did so, neither Liberals, nor Conservatives, nor the NDP. It seems that the latter parties have left the region up to the Liberals. Brampton has a massive immigrant, South Asian, and Punjabi population, and all the candidates in the region are Punjabi, irrespective of whichever party they represent. Perhaps for these regions, the parties have generally avoided Brampton, as well as Mississauga. It is evident that the Liberals will win the region, which is why they do not visit the region as well. RADIO - CJMR Punjab Di Goonj - Oakville, 13/09/2021 - COMMENTARY, 10 mins, Punjabi English-language federal election debate - Spanish Description: Celia Urbalejo, Fabian Merlo - The English-language federal leaders' debate was held on Thursday night, and the main topics were climate change and Indigenous affairs. The debate was the last chance for the leaders to influence voters ahead of the September 20 elections. The fall of Afghanistan and detained Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor in China provoked discussions among the leaders. There was also criticism against Justin Trudeau for calling an election as Afghanistan fell into the hands of the Taliban. Radio host Fabian Merlo thinks there are election topics that are important, but they don't incite passion in people. There was a heated exchange regarding climate change, but this isn't a topic that draws out passion like the economy or immigration. Fabian Merlo doesn't know if climate change would be such a hot topic in other places like it is here. Canada forms part of one of the main groups fighting against climate change, and many people have accused Trudeau of not doing enough and that many promises weren't met. Another topic that shouldn't be left aside is the increase of COVID-19 in Alberta, which is due to errors and inaction by the provincial government. The UCP's plan to lift all restrictions and preventative measures for the pandemic seems to have been based on optimism and political convenience, without scientific evidence, according to infectious disease and pandemic modelling experts. RADIO - CHIN 91.9 FM Spanish - Toronto, 10/09/2021 - TALK SHOW, 3 mins, Spanish Alternatives to Trudeau: The Liberals are losing the advantage - Russian Description: no byline - The article says that, for the first time in the election campaign, the Conservatives overtook the Liberals in popularity. A recently published regular poll shows that 34.4 percent of those surveyed are going to vote for the Tories and 33.6 percent for the Liberals. This is a small but very significant difference in the dynamics of the election. Although the outcome of the election is far from certain, the numbers may indicate the kind of growing disenchantment among voters with Justin Trudeau's party and himself which may be decisive on September 20. The main reasons for discontent are obvious: the radical policies of the Trudeau team, fatigue from the war on the coronavirus, housing difficulties, the rapid rise in the cost of living and the untimely elections. However, voters are moving away from the Liberals not so much towards the Conservatives as towards the New Democrats, whose approval rating rose three percent to 18.9 percent. The author says that NDP leader Jagmeet Singh is clearly aiming to become the "new Trudeau" and attract voters who share the Liberals' radical attitudes, but who have turned their back on Trudeau. As for the other parties, the Green party was supported by just over four per cent of the surveyed, and the People's Party of Canada by just over three per cent. The Bloc Québécois, even in Québec, has a rating below six per cent. The polls on the leaders' popularity provide interesting data. The most popular leader is Jagmeet Singh. He has the approval of 45 percent of respondents and the disapproval of 39 percent. The attitude of Canadians to Conservative leader Erin O'Toole is quite predictable. His positive rating is low, only 28 percent, and his negative is 48 percent. The article says that this is the result of many years of anti-conservative campaigning in society and the mass media, and the fact that the Conservative leader took office relatively recently. However, with a very moderate and "progressive" campaign, O'Toole has a chance of becoming a real alternative to Justin Trudeau. Trudeau is supported by 41 percent of respondents, but has disapproval of a record 53 percent of respondents. The article says that although polling data and ratings from different companies differ and change quite rapidly, the dynamics so far are not in favour of the Liberals. In all likelihood, they will continue to increase the appeal of their promises and will probably resort to intimidating "progressive" voters with the prospect of a Conservative government. The big question remains who will be the alternative to the Liberals, the New Democrats, led by Singh, or the Conservatives, led by O'Toole. WEB - Russian Express - Toronto, 03/09/2021 - COMMENTARY, 1 page web, Russian Federal election 2021 - Will Trudeau come to power again? - Tamil Description: Sivathasan - Canadian federal elections are due in two weeks. When Justin Trudeau faced the 2019 federal elections he expected a majority win. He could not secure a majority win since he had many allegations against him, his government and Liberal politicians/cabinet ministers/MPs. Trudeau's Principal Secretary Gerald Butts ran the PM's office like the Rajapaksa's of Sri Lanka. His approach was "my way or high way" according to many political observers. However, Butts was instrumental in bringing the Liberals back to power. He was Trudeau's "Prashant Kishor". Even though Butts is officially out of the government it appears that Butts is operating from the background. As such, undoubtedly Trudeau will form the government. Trudeau's luck is three pronged this time. First the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented unwanted political meetings and people are stuck in their homes. It is unlikely that many will opt for postal voting. Those who will opt for postal voting will be younger voters who are Trudeau fans. Secondly, Conservative leader Erin O'Toole lacks charisma. But O'Toole is honest and not an "ultra-right" like his predecessor Andrew Scheer. This could lead the Conservatives to withdraw their support for O'Toole. Thirdly, Trudeau's Liberal and left inclined policies have earned a respectable position for Canada in the domestic and international arena. Trudeau is a leader keenly observed by other international politicians. Even though Trudeau has made mistakes, in the absence of a viable political alternative, voters will likely choose Trudeau again. WEB - Marumoli - National, 06/09/2021 - ARTICLE, 1 page web, Tamil NDP might lead in seat count in Quebec - Gujarati Description: NDP leader Jagmeet Singh is very focused on his campaign in Quebec. He is not bothered what other parties are doing there. He does not even react to the comments of other parties. The NDP hopes that it will get back the seats lost in the previous federal election. The NDP had won 59 seats during the Orange wave of 2011 but lost most of them in the last federal elections. Right now, the Bloc Quebecois, NDP and Liberals are at the same level. But whichever party attempts to divide Quebecers on the basis of race and religion will have to pay the price on election day, and the NDP might be the one who gains. PRINT - Gujarat Abroad - Toronto, 03/09/2021 - COMMENTARY, p. 7, Gujarati Money and time squandered: a useless debate - Italian Description: Joe Volpe - Corriere publisher Joe Volpe says Canadian election campaigns and debates should be about matters of interest to Canadians in general. Nonetheless, the Canadian multilingual group, which comprises over 22% of the country’s population, has been excluded. Not surprisingly, no one consulted in the Corriere’s focus group watched the debate. Volpe admits to having difficulty maintaining interest in a “robotic exercise” lacking in vision or ability to manage the unexpected. It was a superficial debate best characterized by the phrase “Believe me, I’m better than they are.” No proof required. The only bomb of the evening exploded when the question of “systemic discrimination” inherent in two legislative initiatives approved by the Quebec government was raised. It angered Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet and Quebec Premier François Legault. Blanchet claims Quebec is a secular society because it discovered that religion has proven ineffective in protecting the rights of women and minorities. Whether one believes such a statement or not, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, who openly shows his religious garb, would be “unwelcome” in the Quebec legislature or any public institution except as a casual visitor. PRINT - Corriere Canadese (29500 - Daily5) - Toronto, 13/09/2021 - ARTICLE, 1/2 page, p. 2, Italian The wind of the election is blowing. - Bengali Description: No byline - Canada's national election was announced during the pandemic, almost two years before the scheduled election date. Hence, the wind of the election has started blowing. The situation of the ruling Liberal Party, which was at its peak of popularity only a few months ago, is in turmoil. The popularity of the party is decreasing every day. Doubts have also arisen as to whether the absolute majority can somehow win now. The recent survey found that most Canadians (58%) do not like the idea of holding elections during this epidemic and do not feel safe. The Ipsos poll survey also found that about 25% of voters did not feel safe going to the polls during the epidemic. Among voters, 16% said they would vote by post instead of going to the polls. And 21% of voters said they were not yet sure whether they would go to the polls in person or vote by post. And 2% of voters said they would not vote at this time. With a majority, the Liberal Party has a 12% chance of winning. And the chances of winning as a minority are 42%. On the other hand, the Conservative Party has a 5% chance of winning with a majority and a 40% chance of winning as a minority. PRINT - Probashi Kantho - Toronto, 08/09/2021 - ARTICLE, p. 6, Bengali Elections in Canada: It is difficult to survive Prime Minister Trudeau’s chair - Hindi Description: Shivangi C - In the second election debate, Justin Trudeau appeared surrounded by questions from opposition leaders. He was seen faltering on the question of why he imposed mid-term elections on the country when it was battling the COVID pandemic. Trudeau decided to hold elections two years before the end of the Parliament’s term. The election will be held on 20 September. Trudeau was asked repeatedly whether he would now promise that there would not be another election within four years if he won again. Trudeau’s response to this was weak. According to analysts, there is not much difference between the agenda of the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party. There have been differences between them on the implementation methods of the welfare schemes. But broadly, the agenda of both the parties has been the same. Erin O’Toole has tried to present a more centrist face of the Conservative Party. According to observers, the personality of the leaders has therefore become the most decisive factor. With respect to immigration policy, the Liberal Party has promised that it will abolish citizenship fees if it returns to power. Also, the applications filed for immigration will be processed more expeditiously. The Liberal Party has promised to make it easier for foreign workers to obtain permanent resident status and to allow more foreign students to come to Canada. The Conservative Party has said that its immigration plan will include allowing immigrants who want to get their applications processed quickly to pay an additional fee for faster processing. The Conservative Party has also promised to tighten the surveillance system for migrants. WEB - CanAm News - Vancouver, 10/09/2021 - ARTICLE, 1 page web, Hindi East Vancouver candidates refuse to attend Chinese radio debate - Chinese Description: Han Jiafeng - NDP candidate and immigration issues commentator Jenny Kwan criticizes the Liberal Party for ignoring the Chinese community. A Canadian Chinese radio station was originally scheduled to hold a forum on September 9 for the federal candidates, but candidates of the Liberal Party, Conservative Party and Green Party all refused to attend. Hence, the event was cancelled. Kwan expressed disappointment and criticized the candidates for doing this. Kwan said that if candidates are unwilling to come out and take questions from the media, will they meet with people and listen to public opinion after being elected? The Voices of Overseas Chinese invited candidates to their forum last week, but only the NDP and Conservative candidates attended. There are six federal constituencies in Vancouver, but none of the Liberal candidates are willing to attend an election forum hosted by Chinese media. Recently, it was reported that someone gave out free lunch to help East Vancouver Liberal candidate Josh Vander Vies gather support. Regarding Vander Vies reluctance to participate in Chinese media debates, Kwan questioned how much he actually values the opinions of the Chinese community. She also thinks that inviting people to eat to support the Liberals is a very problematic approach. https://info.vanpeople.com/1252115.html WEB - Van People - Vancouver, 11/09/2021 - ARTICLE, 1 page web, Chinese Federal leaders' habit of ignoring Western Canada continues - Punjabi Description: Amanjot Singh Pannu - Every time there is a federal election, the leaders routinely neglect issues from the western, prairie part of the country, and this election season has been no different. Since the election has been announced, neither of the three main leaders, Trudeau, Singh, and O'Toole, has made an appearance in the region. Why is this so? Perhaps because the provinces in the region do not count for as many seats as the ones in the eastern parts of the country do. Besides, it seems that the NDP and Liberal leaders have accepted that whatever they do, at least 30 or so of the seats will go to the Conservatives. Political experts also believe that were federal leaders to pay attention to the prairies, perhaps some swing seats might go to new parties, but most residents would vote in predictable ways, and so the leaders, too, act in a predictable manner. The host compared the importance given by these leaders to Ontario and Quebec to the way Indian leaders think of the state of Uttar Pradesh, which elects the largest number of members to the Indian parliament. RADIO - Red FM 106.7 Good Morning Calgary - Calgary, 13/09/2021 - COMMENTARY, 5 mins, Punjabi Almost 18 months after the start of the pandemic, Tam went silent - Portuguese Description: Idalina da Silva - Sol Portugues contributor Idalina da Silva is a fan of the daily news about COVID-19 and especially enjoys listening to Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam with her daily report on the pandemic situation. Da Silva finds Tam explicit in her statements. Suddenly, however, Tam stopped showing up to talk to Canadians. After nearly 18 months of the pandemic, Tam is remarkably absent from the national scene. Da Silva asks why. The situation prompted da Silva to ask another question: Did Prime Minister Justin Trudeau make a bad decision in calling federal elections during this fourth wave of the pandemic and ban the public health authority from providing daily updates on the pandemic situation? Personally, da Silva does not agree with Trudeau's decision to call elections when we are still grappling with the crisis caused by the pandemic, especially the Delta variant. However, she believes that everyone will do their best to ensure that public safety is maintained. PRINT - Sol Portugues - Toronto, 10/09/2021 - ARTICLE, p. 10, Portuguese Host defended Liberals for black face scandal - Urdu Description: Dr. Abdul Qayyum Rana, Founder of the Centrist Party of Canada (CPC) said that Canadians have seen both the Conservative and Liberal parties. Now they should give a chance to a new party to bring change. He said that he was not interested in politics, but as a neurologist, and specialist in Parkinson's disease, when he heard the issues of people, he studied the parties and their plans. He said that the Conservatives have so many corruption scandals. In 2015, when the Liberals came to power, Canadians thought that their leader was young and energetic, and would work differently. But, with the new leader, the Aga Khan scandal came up. SNC-Lavalin and the black face scandals also came up. Host Arifa Muzaffar defended the black face scandal, and shared her experience in performing stage plays. She said that we can talk about WE Charity, SNC-Lavalin, and other scandals. But the black face one was unfair. RADIO - Saaz-O-Awaz - Toronto, 10/09/2021 - INTERVIEW, Urdu Pablo Rodríguez: We want the people to decide - Spanish Description: Isabel Inclán - Correo Canadiense speaks to Liberal candidate Pablo Rodríguez, who is running in the riding of Honoré-Mercier, Quebec. Rodríguez, who is originally from Argentina, calls on members of the Latino and Hispanic community to be more active in Canada’s political life. In his view, it is important, no matter what party they choose, for Latinos to be represented at all levels of Canadian society. He says that while Canada’s doors are open to Latin Americans, migration is not always an easy process, as there are provincial objectives and numbers. For example, Quebec chooses a large portion of its migrants. Nonetheless, it is difficult to compare the situation in Latin America to what is now happening in Afghanistan. For that reason, says Rodríguez, we have decided to open the doors to those 20,000 refugees who are in a life and death situation. PRINT - Correo Canadiense - Toronto, 09/09/2021 - INTERVIEW, pp. 6 and 7, Spanish Confusion around political platforms ahead of elections - Punjabi Description: Harjinder Thind - Two weeks ahead of the elections, the frontrunner has changed, due to the dipping fortunes of the Liberals. Both the Conservatives and Liberals have taken ideas from each other's platforms, causing much debate. Protests have been following all of Justin Trudeau's rallies. In London, Ontario, Trudeau was pelted with small bits of gravel. While people have the right to protest, should they be allowed to hurt political leaders like this? Eggs were not thrown at him, but pieces of rock certainly were. Some are also claiming that this might be planned mischief by the People's Party of Canada (PPC), because many of the protestors seemed to be wearing PPC clothes. The matter of restricting ownership of assault rifles has led to much conflict. It is often considered a typically Liberal talking point to promulgate gun control laws, but Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole has also said that he supports this kind of control. Overlapping promises have been made by each of the parties -- some of which contradict one another, rendering their fulfilment impossible. RADIO - Red FM 93.1 Punjabi Morning - Vancouver, 07/09/2021 - COMMENTARY, Punjabi |